Method and means for electric welding



April 24, 1934, J. W. HOLT uETHoD AND MEANS FOR ELECTRIC wELbING Filed Sept. 23, 1929 2 Sheets-'Sheet l L al INVENTOR. .7o/7121 Ziff/07% BY I Q? .www -f ag A ORN April 24, 1934.

J. W. HOLT METHOD AND MEANS FOR ELECTRIC WELDING Filed Sept. 23. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

John ZJ.' fio??i f-w @@#Mox Patented Apr. 24, 1934 I MErHoD vAND MEANS iFor:erzLEc'rarc wrsnnrruiAf J aa'. Stamgasten. .u Applicationseptembeg 23,1929, serial No. 394,597

w11" claims' (1. alia-nih In the customary practiceof electric welding, 'where acontinuous welding current is passed across a seam to which is applied mechanical compression,vv there is a very'marked tendency to excessive flash or 1in formation. This'is not only objectionable in itself, but also further n ecessitates Vagrinding or finishing-operation in instances where the final appearanceis "offy any importance. A procedure and meanswwhchfwill ,lo make possible the control .of ni'lning tendency, and apply current 'efliciently I' and" economically, is accordingly fa' desideratum, and highly desirable. j

To the accomplishment of the foregoing' and related ends, the'invention, then, consists of the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims,-the following descripti'on' and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain features embodying thelinvention, such being illustrativehoweverof but a few of the4 various ways in which the'principle of the invention Amay be employed. 1

In said annexed drawings: 'l

Fig. 1 isv a semi-diagrammatic sideyelevation showing one form of apparatuscontemplated in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation showing semi-diagrammatically apparatus contemplatedl in the invention, including the wiring circuits; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 4 is a front elevation of another modification; and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modification.

In accordance with the invention, a welding current providing impulses is .applied across the assembled portions, and for welding plate metal where an edge is apposed'with application of pressure, or more particularly for butt-welding plate metal where the edges to be united are held under pressure in abutting register, current is 40 passed across the seam in successive impulses intervaled to produce incipient fusion only at closely spaced intervals along the seam and heated but non-fused portions between such incipiently-fused portions, the non-fused portions limiting the extent to which the edges are forced together and correspondingly limiting flash-over. Relative travel, either the current-applying elec-. A trodes being stationary and the work being moved therepast, or the electrodes beingmounted so as to travel at controlled rates along the work, may afford a proper distribution of the current so applied.

In Very thin sections. this procedure can be applied by passing the scam under the current applying electrode, o1' moving the electrode, at

with the particularwork requirementsr.' f .l '1 g As the thicknessof thelmaterial to be welded ,proper fspeedllwhile alternating .current is supplied, the impulsesor alternations ofthe cur- Arentdpin su'clncase developing the spaced incipiently-fusegfpoints permitting the union WhileV ,-suitable pressure Kis applied. With lower ranges l0 of frequency incommercially supplied alternat- .ing current,,`light;work maybehandled, or fre- ;quencygchangers may be =employed-to still fur- @ther reduce thefrequency rate f in accordance increases -whowevenrthe amount vof current; required tofdevelop theinecessary heat in a single impulse becomes'. excessive... Alsowhere a tube is being weldedior-instance, thetime required for the fused portion to come down to a holding .temperature to retainthe seamvstrength after passing the--pressure-weld zone becomes longer, and thereis a tendency for the. seam to open up aftenpassing the pressure rolls due to the stress setup in bending the wall intoitube-'forrm 'I'he conditionsare provided 'for in accordance with the invention' by supplying-the welding current in successive impulsesor intermittently at suitable time=intervals. 'This maybe accomplished 30 in simple form by opening and closing thecircuit of the current while suitably causing relative travel as regards the work. If the work is of a heavier.. character and the'current requirements such as to thus Vdevelop arcs at the switch or make andbreakidevice, as well as undesirable fiuctuationsin the primary electric circuit due to the variations in the load, I alternately divert the current from the welding electrode to a resistance circuit vof approximately -equal value. 90 Where it is desired to further avoid any waste by use of a simple resistance circuit, the resistance circuit can take the form of another welding circuit on a similar class of Work. Two welders operated simultaneously with a switch or control device alternately diverting the current from one to the other Welder may thus be provided with most advantageous results. If desired, one primary welding circuit atleast may be equipped with a chokeor reactance coil to aid in balancing the load, and this may be operated for instance by two solenoids, one in each primary welding circuit, and a. dash pot. ,so as tomake the action automatic. i

As' the thickness of the wall increases and with 105 it the tendency ofthe seam in tube welding to spring open, I mayalso apply sufficient heat to the other side of the tube as it enters the Welding throat to soften it at this point during the Welding operation and remove the stress set up by be accomplished for instance by a gas torch, or al carbon arc, or preferably by a second transformer and elect-rode rolls. In such forms of electrically applied heat, such heating circuit may be the alternative circuit with the welding circuit, the current being diverted in succession from one to the other in suitably rapid sequence, and the portion .of heat applied, at' thev weldand thatflapplied at thevr other 'side'of 'the tube can be adjusted as desired by the relativedwellf the contacts on the switch or current distributor, In applying the process with extremely heavy 'l wall tube making, it is advantagequsto drin `the seams, and the welding current can then be a1- 'edge-"turning throat ft, bendin'giitlie edges "fup channel-wise and p'resenting them to the' forming-rolls which close "theedgesinto rflrial'tube form. 1 The tube now'ready for-welding isfpass'ed acrossthe seam by an electrode, preferably an electrode rollxorfrolls e, these-being inelect'rical connection with theztransformerfT. Depending upon the gauge of stocki'andvthe -frequencyof the A."C.,' the rate of feed'ofl thestrip s maybe readily adjusted, i' and thejcurrentf Eimpulses Vwill thus be passed across the seam 'at' intervalsV spaced along the' seam, f incipiently i, fusing the Ametal at such points but with heat therebetween insuili v. cient to bring tofusion,- and 'the unfused points ,thus limit the extent of yielding under.' the pressure of the .pressure rolls;.fwhile thepoints of fusion are`yetsuilciently forced-together to pro- ,vide a goodunion.V Withthe skip points of current passage thus closely but not too'closely approximated, aline of union along` thetseam may be had, and light stock '-may be handled at'a rapid rate. Y

As indicated. with heavier stock, the current is supplied in impulses by suitably interrupting its ow as fed to the welding-zone, and with a set up of apparatus as shown in Fig. 1, heavier stock may be handled, and the :current vmay be simply intermitted. being alternately"'thrown into the welding electrode and then into any suitable resistance. as needs not be particularly detailed. It is preferable however to employ another heating circuit or another welding cir'- cuit as the resistance. In such case, either a stock-heating circuit may be employed with a welding circuit, as will be described more particularl'y hereinafter with reference to Fig. 5, or two welding circuits may be employed, as will be described more' particularly in connection with Fig. 4, or two welding circuits may be employed, as indicated in Fig. 2. In the latter, two pieces of work, for instance tubing 2, 3, are being seamed simultaneously, the sheet metal beingformd up int-o tube shape and passed between the pressure rolls 4, 4, and 5, 5, respectively, while the electrode rolls 6, 6, and 7, 7, respectively, bear along close to the edges to be welded. The electrode rolls are in electrical connection with the respective transformers 8, 9, and any suitable means, the detail of which it is unnecessary to show, may regulate the povsmentscmaybe arranged as one such4 member, tube in. two half sections, thus involvingtwo bending and forming the tube. Such heating can sition and pressure of the electrode rolls with respect to the work. The pressure rolls 4, 4,. and 5, 5, may be driven for instance through bevel gearing 10, 10, and 1111 from a shaft 12 which may be .operated by a motor or other convenient drive. Arranged' to be also operated byfthe shaft 12 is a switch or current distributor ber carril'l'by thev shaft and a stationary member -coacting, the changing relative positions switchingthe connection fromcircuit to circuit alternately. A-commutator-like group of segland a brush-like contactor yas the other, and

. .4 y l either such member may be rotated by the shaft, ternately shifted from one seamlto the 'other,=in'=y accordance with the principles discussed.s k With the employment of lalternating current while the"other member is held stationary'to contactwtherewith. @In the particular form il lustratedin Figs.` 2 and 3,.the assemblage of conductive' segments 13, 14, 15 and 16 with mica 95 or other..` insulation. 17 l between, formsl a compact commutatorflike', structure ,securedto, and ,rol tating {'withfvthe shaft, ,while, aontactor 18, spring-pressed or. .otherwise l,convergxientlyv held againstgthe face'` of ,dief-segments iss-connected 10() 4with alead ,19. ,IIhe precisenumber of segments., 13, l.,14",.etc., on ,the distributor, may lbe lftwo or .,more,`in v.the .simplestl case. two .one con- {nectedgto eachtransfrmerlead, being adequate.; vWith quite heavy xcurrents however, vit is de- 105 M sirable'fto ,increasethesurfacesof contact and spread ,thelloa'd thereacrosaiand correspondingly the 'number "of segments may-be increased. VVithfour..segments as. shownlinaigs. 2 and 3.

v,one fpairlofjsegments 13,'15may be Vconnected 110 by 'alead' 20'l to .transformerl 8,4 andthe other lpair Otsegments 14. 16 may belconnectedby a lead 21l to ,transformera ','Ifhecontacto'r `18 in getherfi'n 1 Icircuit simultaneouslML-land increases ,to such-extent thefsur'facesl'involved, thereby lowering the currentdensity ofgany circuit and lessening punishment upon thcdistributor. The transformer circuits Lto theline are completed in turnby .connectionsy 22; 23,V butdesirably a 'choke coil or reactance 24 may be included in one ,."such connection, and be automatically switched inv and out by the switch arm 25 which at the position shown in. full lineV bridges spaced contact points 26 land 27, the -former connecting tothe choke c'oil 24, and the latter being connected to a solenoid 28 from which vin turn a lead 29 goes to the service switch 30 at the inlet from the main supply line. Another solenoid 31 in the connection from the other transformer is also arranged so as to operate in common upon an armature-core 32 lreciprocable between the solenoids. The switch-carrying bar 33 movable with and operated by the armaturecore carries the switch arm 25, and extends onto a dash pot or the like 34.

While the lead 19 from .the distributor may be,taken direct to the main inlet switch 30, it is preferable to make connection through arelay switch 35 which is controlled by the work. such as to be .put into operation at the proper time when the work is proceeding to the welding zone. For this, a trip or circuit closure, for instance a lever 36, may be arranged such as to be Voperated by the on-coming tube`3, the roller i 37 being forced down thereby so as to swing the lever 36 about its pivot mounting 38 and complete the circuit through xed contact 39 and connection 40 to a source of relay current 41 and to a solenoid or electromagnetic operatl5@ ing means 42 for the bridging arm 35. Normally, a spring or like means may maintain the bridging arm in circuit-breaking position, but on closing of the circuit by the advancing work, the bridging'arm 35 is pulled into position to complete the main circuit across the contacts 43, 44.

As will be clear from' the foregoing, with the main line switch' 30 closed and with welding stock fed in and shaped up into tube form and introduced to the' pressure rolls 4, 4, and 5, 5, the relay-circuitclosures 36, 36 as actuated by the advancing'tube are operated to close `the relay circuit'through the solenoid 'or the 'like 42, thereby pulling the bridging arm 35 into position to' closeacross the contacts 43 and 44 of the transformer circuit.` With the shaft 12 suitably driven, the current distributor 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, successively diverts the current to the transformers 8, 9 alternately, and the respective solenoids 28 and 31 operate the switch arm 25'to throw -the choke V24 in and out of circuit. A1

With very thick walled stock in the formation of tubing, it is further desirable to shape up half sections, v2fi..2b, Fig 4, and these are fed in apposed relation through the welding machina which may then be equipped with an additional or lower set of electrode rolls. As illustrated in Fig. 4. the upper electrode roll 6a may be connected with the transformer 8a, and the lower electrode rolls 6b with the transformer 9a. Pressure rolls 4a are correspondingly arranged to bear upon the walls of the tubing, and convenient adjusta-bility may be provided, for instance by mounting the shanks 45 of the roll carriers in fixed boxes 46, the shanks being then longitudinally adjustable with respect thereto by adjusting screws 47. A spring 48 may be interposed between the shankand the abutment. The distributor may follow the form already described, or for instance may be of a single-arm character, the contactor-arm 18a being secured to the shaft 12a, while the contact-segments 13a with mica or other insulation therebetween may be mounted in stationary position so as to be swept over by the contactor 18a in its travel. In such arrangement, alternate contact segments 13a may connect with one transformer, and contact segments 14a with the other transformer. Any simple slip ring or other rotary connection may carry the current between the contactor-operating shaft 12a and the lead 19a. A choke coil or reactance 24a may be provided in one of the transformer circuits. and may be automatically switched in and out by a switch 25a reciprocable by the solenoids 28a, 31a. operating an armaturecore 32a and a switch rod 33a secured thereto. A dash pot 34a may also be incorporated ifdesired. The circuit through the transformers is oompleted by leads 20a, 21a, to the main switch 30a.

With this arrangement, the half sections for the tube, 2a., 2b are fed in between the pressure rolls 4c, 4a and welding current is supplied through -the respective electrode rolls in alternation from zone, heat may be applied'to the other side of the tube sufficient to soften it to remove stress introduced from the bending up. A gas "torch 50, Fig.'

case, the heater-circuit may be connected up to be..

the resistance for the alternate .diversion of thewelding: current. 1 tactor lbfmay be arranged to coact with segmentsiab, 14h, 15b, 16h. one ser of segments 13b,

15b' connecting to the Welding transformer 8b while the other set 14h, 16h connectsbyalad '55 to thev heating transformer 5,4. It is desirable also to incorporate la relay control; a trip 37b in the path of'the advancing work being arranged to complete the circuit at contact 39h and actuate therelay switch 35h when the work is ready to advance into thewelding zone. f

Line current is, asbeforejmade availablel by the closing of the'. main switch 30h, and with the machine infoperation, the tubing blank s' is advanced and shaped, 'andheat is 4applied from the beating current of electrode 53. and this and the welding` electrodes v.6b alternately receiving current. as switchedlby vthe `distributor 18h, 13b, etc. As before. if desired. a choke 4,24h and switching solenoid's` 2817, -311). may be 4varranged in the welding-'transformer circuit.l e 1 As thus supplied in any case, the welding curn rentof a character .providing intervaled impulses vis applied in 4relative travelvalong the work..and.

spaced softened'v points for rapid and effective welding are had, guarded however against excessive flashing or n formation by the intervening For this, a fdistributor-coni' I therefore particularly point out and distincti 1. A method of electric weldingwhich comprises passing a welding current across the portions to be welded, applying pressure thereto. and selectively heat-softening the portion of the work opposite in which stress is present to thereby control such stress.

2. A method of electric welding, which comprises abutting seam-blank edges together, passing a welding' current thereacross while causing relative travel between the work and the point of application of the current. applying pressure across the scam. and electrically selectively heatsoftening an opposite portion of the work to control stress therein.

3. A method of electric welding, which cornprises forming a blank into tube shape, passing a welding current across the seam formed by the meeting edges, causing relative travel between the work and the point of application of the current, applying pressure across the seam, and selectively heat-softening the opposite portion of .15 respective seams the work to control stresses by applying anew ing current thereto. x

causing relative @verteilt-between the wond-anar the pointslof application of thecurrentLand 'alf ternatel diverting taie'wejldingcurrent' tothe in timed relation' to' the move- 'ment. 6. A method of electric welding, which comprises forming a tubing-blank into relation with abutting seams, and simultaneously operating at 2'0 two zones by causing relative movement between the work and the points of application'of the current, and 'alternately passing welding current into the respective zones in timed relation to the movement. n i

7. A method of electric welding, which comprises forming sections up into :a tube with opposite seams, causing relative movement between vthe Work and the points'. of application ofV .the current and valternately diverting the welding 3o current from one seam to the other in timed relation to the movement,A

8. Apparatus of the character described, which comprises a plurality of welding electrodes, means in common for. supplying current thereto, means.

providing' relative movement between the electrodes and work to be welded, and .a distributor f for alternately switching the current fromone electrode to the other in timed relation ft'othe' spective electrodes in timed relation to the move- I 10. Apparatus of.,l theV character described,

i'which' comprises a plurality otwelding electrodes, means in common for supplying current thereto.

pressure rolls adjacent-each electrode and spaced apart to receive the work therebetween, means for driving the pressure rolls, and a distributor coordinated therewith for` alternately diverting the current to the respective electrodes.

11. Apparatus -of the character described, which comprises a. plurality of -welding electrodes in parallel mounting, pressure rolls adjacent each electrode and spaced apart to receive the vWorlr therebetween, a transformer in circuit with each electrode, switching. means therefor, including a distributor having a fixed contact in circuit with each electrode and transformer, a moving contactor geared with the pressure rolls and passing over the respective xed contacts inturn thereby alternately diverting the welding current to the respective electrodes, a damping choke, means for switching said choke into and out of one of the transformer circuits, and a control for the welding circuits including a trip inthe path of the work and an electrically controlled switch for opening and closing the electrode circuits.

JOHN w. HoL'r. 

